Topic Contents

Glaucoma: Unproven Treatment Methods

Topic Overview

Glaucoma can't be cured, and treatment doesn't always
prevent further loss of vision, So you may be attracted to a treatment that
some people claim is helpful, even though it has not been medically proved to
work. Some alternative remedies can be harmful. Even when these treatments are
not harmful, they can be expensive and time-consuming. Some alternative or
complementary treatments have been tried for glaucoma. Although they may have
some benefits, most alternative therapies either have not been studied or have
not been shown to be effective in the treatment of glaucoma.

Examples of unproven methods to treat glaucoma include:

Vitamin and nutrient supplements. There is no conclusive evidence that vitamin deficiencies cause glaucoma or
that taking high doses of vitamins will either prevent or help treat glaucoma.
High doses of some supplements can cause problems. For example, vitamin A
poisoning can occur if large amounts of vitamin A are taken.

Herbal remedies. Some herbal agents, such as ginkgo
biloba and vinpocetine (vinca minor), may have some benefits. But they have not
been well studied. Also, potential toxicity or side effects from these
preparations have not been studied.

Marijuana (Cannabis). Inhaled marijuana smoke has
been shown to result in an average 25% reduction in
intraocular pressure (IOP), but the effect only lasts
for about 3 to 4 hours. Also, not all people who use marijuana have this
reduction in IOP. It only occurs in about 60 to 65 out of 100 users. Also, the smoke has toxic effects on other parts of the body, particularly in the lungs. And
substances in the smoke cause changes in mental state. The amount of marijuana
you would need to smoke to keep eye pressure down would cause significant side
effects. Because of these toxic and psychoactive effects, along with the short
duration of the beneficial effect of lowering pressure in the eye, marijuana is
considered a poor treatment option and is not recommended for glaucoma.footnote 1, footnote 2

Exercise. Exercise has been shown to have effects
that can both raise and lower pressure in the eyes over the short term (during
and immediately after exercise) and lower pressure in the eyes over the long
term (when you engage in regular moderate to heavy exercise). Exercise
may help to improve overall health, but the beneficial effects for glaucoma appear
to be minor and do not occur in all people.

Diet therapy. Highly restrictive diets supplemented
by vitamins, minerals, and amino acids or diets rich in nutrients have been
thought to reduce the effects of glaucoma.
But no conclusive evidence shows that diet or obesity plays any role in
either the development or treatment of glaucoma. There could be a danger of
malnutrition if the diet is not balanced.

Acupuncture. Acupuncture, in which very thin needles
are placed into the skin at specific points on the body, is a standard part of
medicine in the Far East. And it is becoming more common in the United States and Canada.
There is very limited evidence that acupuncture may have some effect on
lowering pressure in the eyes. But there is no evidence that it has any benefit
in the treatment of glaucoma.

Many doctors believe glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease, rather
than just a disease of high IOP. There is interest in
treatments that help protect the nerve cells in the eye from damage caused by
glaucoma (neuroprotective therapy). Although a number of these
therapies are being investigated, none has yet been proved to be both safe and
effective in the treatment of glaucoma.

Related Information

References

Citations

American Academy of Ophthalmology (2003). Marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma (complementary therapy assessment). San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology. Also available online: http://one.aao.org/CE/PracticeGuidelines/Therapy_Content.aspx?cid=9871fa42-cf40-4c1f-b05c-c816d5f93126.

American Academy of Ophthalmology (2003). Marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma (complementary therapy assessment). San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology. Also available online: http://one.aao.org/CE/PracticeGuidelines/Therapy_Content.aspx?cid=9871fa42-cf40-4c1f-b05c-c816d5f93126.

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